Cooling device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device, in particular a freezer, comprising a cooling circuit having a compressor, at least one evaporator, and a condenser; a space for cooling goods that can be closed at its upper surface; and a coolant reservoir at least partially surrounding an upper region of the space for cooling goods, wherein the at least one evaporator is disposed in the coolant reservoir, and wherein the at least one evaporator at least partially surrounds the upper region of the space for cooling goods.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A cooling device comprising:
 a cooling circuit having a compressor, at least one evaporator, and a condenser; 
 a space for cooling goods having an upper surface at which the space for cooling goods can be closed; and 
 a coolant reservoir at least partially surrounding an upper region of the space for cooling goods, the coolant reservoir being spaced from the space for cooling goods such that a predetermined thermal insulation is provided between the space for cooling goods and the coolant reservoir, 
 wherein the at least one evaporator is disposed in the coolant reservoir such that in use the at least one evaporator is disposed in a cooling liquid in the coolant reservoir, 
 wherein the evaporator is designed to freeze a coolant in the coolant reservoir to form an ice lining, 
 wherein the at least one evaporator at least partially surrounds the upper region of the space for cooling goods; and 
 wherein the cooling device is a cooling device selected from a cooling device for storing medical products and a cooling device for transport of medical products. 
 
     
     
       2. The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator is disposed in a lower region of the coolant reservoir. 
     
     
       3. The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator is a tubular evaporator. 
     
     
       4. The cooling device of  claim 3 , wherein the evaporator is selected from an evaporator which comprises at least one loop and an evaporator which comprises three or more loops. 
     
     
       5. The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator is designed to freeze a coolant comprising water in the coolant reservoir. 
     
     
       6. The cooling device of  claim 5 , wherein the evaporator is arranged to freeze the coolant starting from a lower region of the coolant reservoir towards an upper region of the coolant reservoir. 
     
     
       7. The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant reservoir completely surrounds an upper circumferential region of the space for cooling goods. 
     
     
       8. The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper region of the space for cooling goods that is at least partially surrounded by the coolant reservoir corresponds to 10% to 90% of a height of the space for cooling goods. 
     
     
       9. The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant reservoir is an upwardly open coolant reservoir. 
     
     
       10. The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant reservoir has a U-shaped cross section. 
     
     
       11. The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant reservoir comprises external walls that are formed at least partially wavy. 
     
     
       12. The cooling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cooling space having four cooling space sidewalls, a cooling space base and a lid that is designed to close the space for cooling goods at the upper surface of the space for cooling goods. 
     
     
       13. The cooling device of  claim 12 , wherein between the four cooling space sidewalls of the cooling space and external walls of the space for cooling goods a receiving space is formed, and wherein the coolant reservoir is disposed in the receiving space. 
     
     
       14. The cooling device of  claim 13 , wherein the coolant reservoir is spaced from the four cooling space sidewalls of the cooling space and the external walls of the space for cooling goods. 
     
     
       15. The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling device is designed to provide a temperature in a range of about +2 to about +8° C. in the space for cooling goods. 
     
     
       16. The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the space for cooling goods is an air-filled space for cooling goods. 
     
     
       17. A cooling device,
 wherein the cooling device is solar powered, 
 wherein the cooling device is selected from a cooling device for storing medical products and a cooling device for transport of medical products selected from vaccines and blood products which is configured to maintain a temperature in the range of about +2 to about +8° C. in a space for cooling goods, 
 wherein the cooling device comprises:
 a cooling circuit comprising a compressor, at least one evaporator and a condenser; 
 the space for cooling goods having an upper surface at which the space for cooling goods can be closed; and 
 
 a coolant reservoir at least partially surrounding an upper region of the space for cooling goods, the coolant reservoir being spaced from the space for cooling goods such that a predetermined thermal insulation is provided between the space for cooling goods and the coolant reservoir; 
 wherein the at least one evaporator is arranged to freeze a water coolant in the coolant reservoir to form an ice lining; 
 wherein the at least one evaporator is disposed in the coolant reservoir such that in use the at least one evaporator is disposed in the water coolant in the coolant reservoir, and 
 wherein the at least one evaporator at least partially surrounds the upper region of the space for cooling goods. 
 
     
     
       18. The cooling device of  claim 17 , wherein the evaporator is arranged to freeze the water coolant starting from a lower region of the coolant reservoir towards an upper region of the coolant reservoir. 
     
     
       19. The cooling device of  claim 17 , wherein the upper region of the space for cooling goods that is at least partially surrounded by the coolant reservoir corresponds to 40% to 60% of a height of the space for cooling goods. 
     
     
       20. The cooling device of  claim 17 , wherein the coolant reservoir is an upwardly open coolant reservoir. 
     
     
       21. The cooling device of  claim 17 , wherein the space for cooling goods is an air-filled space for cooling goods.